And then their coach blew a gasket.
"That was a disgraceful performance," Jim Mora said after that game, played eight years ago this month. "We threw that game away. We gave them the game. It was pitiful, absolutely pitiful."
So would the Colts still make the playoffs?
"Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me. Playoffs? I'm just hoping we can win a game, another game."
This time around, the 49ers held a lead and blew it.
After the game, however, coach Mike Singletary was far more optimistic.
"We're going to win enough football games to go to the playoffs," Singletary said. "It's as simple as that."
For a 3-4 team, that's a pretty significant vow.
His words were a bit more surprising since, at the time, it appeared that the Cardinals would handle the Panthers and take a two-game lead in the NFC West. But with the Niners still only one game behind in the standings and one win up in the tiebreaker, the Monday night rematch in San Fran on December 14 could go a long way toward determining whether the Niners or the Cards will earn the automatic berth that goes to one of four not-so-great teams.
The Niners also should be encouraged by the fact that they went toe-to-toe with the 7-0 Colts, leading 14-9 through three quarters. They next get visits from the Titans and Bears, and if San Fran will be making good on Singletary's promise, the 49ers will win both games.
The Colts should be encouraged by the reality that they can manufacture wins even on days when they seem destined to lose, and on those rare occasions when Peyton Manning fails to throw a touchdown pass. "They're not all going to be pretty,'' G.M. Bill Polian said after the game, per the Indianapolis Star. "You don't go out and whip everybody 35-to-nothing."
Wins like this give a good team the confidence to encounter adversity. And they might need that confidence next week, when the Texans come to town.
Or one week thereafter, when the Patriots pay a visit.
The 49ers played very well but there was some very suspicious leg cramps that they're defense kept coming up with in the 2nd half when the Colts offense was driving. The Colts radio broadcasters and the SF Chronicle mentioned it. Difficult to prove but that's a very shady move on Singletary's part if true.
1) It's their you illiterate bitch. They're means they are... ffs why is it so hard?
2) I'm a Colts fan and I seriously doubt Singletary would have anything to do with faking injuries. Just doesn't seem like his style to me.
Looks like Samurai Mike took a page out of the Patriots defensive play-book and had several mysterious "injuries" to disrupt the Colts momentum and rhythm.
Nemesis says: Looks like Samurai Mike took a page out of the Patriots defensive play-book and had several mysterious "injuries" to disrupt the Colts momentum and rhythm.
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@ Nemesis:
You must be referring to the "screw you Peyton" play perfected by Peyton's nemesis, Willie McGinest.
It was awesome. Willie went on to make the game-winning tackle a few plays later.
I've never seen a timeout effect someone like it did Manning, good to see he has overcome it.
How many times are the dumbass colts going to get "warned" for breaking the rules, but not penalized?
The colts offense loves to try and do a quick snap to try and catch the opposing defense unprepared or with too many men on the field because they are trying to sub in. While this is pretty cheap and shady it isn't illegal. However, if the offense subs in then the defense must also be given a chance to bring in subs.
Twice now in the last few colts games the officials have stopped play and let the defense make the necessary changes, while "warning" the colts offense. a warning? really? 2x now?
why isn't there a simple warning for holding? or maybe pass interference? How about a warning for personal fouls?
I guess the NFL has to give the colts some kind of advantage until they get their fake crowd noise system setup in the new stadium
Here is the key to beating Mannning/Colts - play the way the 49ers played (MINUS) Crabtree's fumble, Bruce dropping passes, Celebrating like a bunch of STUPID WHORES, getting sacked for loss of yards when you're in field goal range, one too many conservative plays!
49ers played well most of the time, but not enough.
If they lose to the Titans/Bears/Jaguars at home - I would expect lots of fans jumping off Golden Gate Bridge, and rightfully so!
Unnamed Source says: I guess the NFL has to give the colts some kind of advantage until they get their fake crowd noise system setup in the new stadium
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LMAO, I love when the announcers comment on how loud it is and then the cameras pan across the crowd and half of them are asleep.
The league already changed the rules (illegal contact "emphasis") for the Colts, what more can Pollian and Manning ask for?